A DAREDEVIL Basingstoke mum participated in the world’s largest offshore yacht race as part of the first Girlguiding team to take part in the event.

Amy Mossop was selected to join the association’s Fastnet Divas in the Fastnet Race, which saw the most diverse fleet of offshore racing yachts set sail from the Solent on August 16 in the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s (RORC) biennial event.

Basingstoke Gazette:

The 40-year-old mother-of-three was part of a team of 16 ranging in age from 17 to 57, who sailed in a 72ft Challenger yacht.

Around 350 boats took part in the event, sailing a 603- mile course along the south coast of England.

Amy, who is a Guide leader for the 11th Basingstoke (St Michael’s) Guide unit, said: “Girlguiding was putting together its first ever team to take part in the race in order to show that girls can do whatever they choose. I thought that it would be really fab to have a go.”

Crowds cheered the participants at the start line of the race, which is in its 90th year.

It was a slow start because of a lack of wind, but most yachts managed to pick up three to four knots of wind within the first few hours.

As Challenger rounded the Fastnet Rock off southern Ireland, the team were all called from their bunks to view the unique sight, passing it at 10.30pm on August 19 after being at sea for three days.

By Thursday, the wind had picked up as the team headed back to the Isles of Scilly and Lands End.

This was followed by the long haul from Penzance to the finish line at Plymouth, which Fastnet Divas completed through Thursday and on into Friday, crossing the line at 5.47am.

Amy said: “It was amazing. We may not have been fast, but we sailed in the spirit of Guiding and had fun throughout and partied hard at the RORC party.”